[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 154 (Wednesday, August 12, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40638-40639]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-19285]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration


Fiscal Year 2010 Safety Grants

AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice is to inform the public of FMCSA's Fiscal Year 
(FY) 2010 safety grant opportunities and FMCSA's changes to its 
application and award processes for grant programs. The Agency 
instituted procedural changes in an effort to simplify and streamline 
its grants application and award processes. The 11 safety programs 
include the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) Basic 
grants; MCSAP Incentive grants; MCSAP New Entrant Safety Audit grants; 
MCSAP High Priority grants; Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) Operator 
Safety Training grants; Border Enforcement grants (BEG); Commercial 
Driver's License Program Improvement (CDLPI) grants; Commercial 
Driver's License Information System (CDLIS) Modernization grants; 
Performance and Registration Information Systems Management (PRISM) 
grants; Safety Data Improvement Program grants (SaDIP); and the 
Commercial Vehicle Information Systems and Networks (CVISN) grants. 
Each grant program was provided for in the Agency's most recent 
authorization, the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient 
Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). The purpose 
of this notice is to provide grantees with information on the Agency's 
FY 2010 safety grant application deadlines.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please contact the following FMCSA 
staff with questions or needed information on the Agency's grant 
programs:
    MCSAP New Entrant Safety Audit Grants--Arthur Williams, 
[email protected], 202-366-3695, Border Enforcement Grants--Carla 
Vagnini, [email protected], 202-366-3771, MCSAP High Priority 
Grants--Cim Weiss, [email protected], 202-366-0275, CMV Operator Safety 
Training Grants--Julie Otto, [email protected], 202-366-0710, CDLPI 
Grants--Brandon Poarch, [email protected], 202-366-3030, CDLIS 
Modernization Grants--Brandon Poarch, [email protected], 202-366-
3030, SaDIP Grants--Betsy Benkowski, [email protected], 202-366-
4808, PRISM Grants--Tom Lawler, [email protected], 202-366-3866, CVISN 
Grants--Julie Lane, [email protected], 202-385-2391.
    All staff may be reached at FMCSA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 
Washington, DC 20590. Office hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., EST, 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulatory History

    On March 24, 2009, FMCSA published a notice with request for 
comments in the Federal Register (74 FR 12437) regarding the 
establishment of Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 grant application due dates and 
other grant program changes.

Background and Purpose

    FMCSA recognizes that State governments and other grantees are 
dependent on its safety grants to develop and maintain important 
commercial motor vehicle (CMV) safety programs. FMCSA further 
acknowledges that delays in awarding grant funds may have an adverse 
impact on these important safety programs. As a result, FMCSA conducted 
a grants process review, in an effort to identify ways to streamline 
the application, award, and grants management processes, and to award 
grant funds earlier each fiscal year. In addition, FMCSA made changes 
in the grants application, award and oversight processes to standardize 
application forms, increase the use of electronic documents, 
standardize quarterly reports and reduce the number of needed grant 
amendments.

Discussion of Comments

    Five comments were received in the docket. All commenters supported 
FMCSA's changes, especially any efforts to award funds earlier in the 
fiscal year. One commenter suggested delaying on the proposed 
application dates until FY 2011. Another commenter suggested one due 
date for all grants. Other comments included suggestions beyond the 
scope of FMCSA's current changes. This information will be considered 
during future grant program modifications.

FY 2010 Safety Grants Program

    First, the schedule for the FY 2010 grant applications is as 
follows:
    MCSAP Basic and Incentive Grants--August 1, 2009.
    New Entrant Safety Audit Grants--September 1, 2009.
    Border Enforcement Grants--September 15, 2009.
    CMV Operator Safety Training Grants--October 1, 2009.
    SaDIP Grants--October 2, 2009.
    MCSAP High Priority Grants--October 15, 2009.
    CDLPI Grants--November 1, 2009.
    CDLIS Modernization Grants--November 15, 2009.
    PRISM Grants--December 1, 2009.
    CVISN Grants--December 1, 2009.
    Second, consistent with its contract authority, FMCSA will enter 
into grant agreements beginning October 1 or as soon thereafter as 
administratively practicable. FMCSA intends to enter into grant 
agreements no later than 90 days from the date the application is due 
but not prior to October 1.
    Third, for all grants other than MCSAP Basic and Incentive, FMCSA 
will use a standard grant application form and a new quarterly 
reporting process. In its grant announcements on grants.gov, FMCSA will 
use Standard Form 424 (``Application for Federal Assistance'') and its 
attachments for all of its grant programs. While each grant

[[Page 40639]]

program may request different data in some of the data fields on the 
form, the use of the Standard Form 424 will be mandatory. FMCSA must 
adopt the Standard Form--Project Progress Report (SF-PPR) as its 
preferred form for quarterly reporting. Therefore, the SF-PRR would be 
mandatory for quarterly reporting. However, individual grant programs 
may require additional SF-PRR attachments. Additional guidance will be 
provided to grant recipients upon award.
    Fourth, FMCSA is increasing the use of electronic documents. As a 
result, the number of original copies of grant agreements required to 
be signed by Grantees and submitted to FMCSA is now two. In addition, 
FMCSA will provide most grant agreement documents electronically to its 
financial processing office. Grantees are, however, still required to 
submit the Automated Clearing House (ACH) Vendor Payment Form (SF-3881) 
directly to FMCSA's financial processing office by U.S. Postal Service, 
courier service or secure fax.

Application Information for FY 2010 Grants

    General information about FMCSA grant programs is available in the 
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance which can be found on the 
internet at http://www.cfda.gov. To apply for funding, applicants must 
register with grants.gov at http://www.grants.gov/applicants/get-registered.jsp and submit an application in accordance with 
instructions provided for each grant program.
    If funds remain available within each grant program, applications 
filed after the deadline will be considered.
    Evaluation Factors: The following evaluation factors will be used 
in reviewing the applications for all FMCSA discretionary grants:
    (1) Prior performance--Completion of identified programs and goals 
per the project plan.
    (2) Effective Use of Prior Grants--Demonstrated timely use and 
expensing of available funds.
    (3) Cost Effectiveness--Applications will be evaluated and 
prioritized on the expected safety impact relative to the investment of 
grant funds. Where appropriate, costs per unit will be calculated and 
compared with national averages to determine effectiveness. In other 
areas, proposed costs will be compared with historical information to 
confirm reasonableness.
    (4) Applicability to announced priorities--If national priorities 
are included in the grants.gov notice, those proposals that 
specifically address these issues will be given priority consideration.
    (5) Ability of the applicant to support the strategies and 
activities in the proposal for the entire project period of 
performance.
    (6) Use of innovative approaches in executing a project plan to 
address identified safety issues.
    (7) Feasibility of overall program coordination and implementation 
based upon the project plan.
    (8) Grant specific evaluation factors as described in the 
grants.gov application information.

    Issued on: August 6, 2009.
William A. Quade,
Associate Administrator for Enforcement and Program Delivery.
David Anewalt,
Acting Associate Administrator for Research and Information Technology.
[FR Doc. E9-19285 Filed 8-11-09; 8:45 am]
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